Music City Pub Crawl

Let's Crawl Y'all

Nashville Travel Blog

Planning a trip to Nashville? Plotting out your plan of attack can be daunting when you've never visited Music City before. This article takes all the options visitirs haveand sorts them into multiple day plans.

If you visit Nashville, you will be tempted to do some day drinking. In Music City, the music (and drinking) begins at 11 AM every day, in every bar downtown. It’s so easy to get caught up in the festivities and find yourself in your hotel room by 4 PM. Therefore, some light-hearted and helpful tips on day drinking will help you enjoy longer and not miss a beat.

The first tool in surviving day drinking is to pick your poison carefully. While wine is a wonderful libation, drinking chardonnay at noon will almost definitely result in crashing at the Air BNB midday. Likewise, darker liquors and straight shots can produce the same results. Beer is often a safe option for early drinkers. Many women complain that beer makes them feel too full, so they opt for vodka, instead. There are dangers there, as well.

Vodka and clear rum can be consumed safely during the day, as long as the mixes are not sweet. Opting for water or club soda can alleviate an afternoon hangover or indigestion. One of life’s most effective hangover remedies is the Bloody Mary. Nashville bars compete for the best Bloody Mary concoctions, as well as toppings. Some of the toppings equate to a small meal—sliders, shrimp, bacon. Pickled veggies—yum! There is a fine line, however, between nursing a hangover and taking a large step toward a new day of drinking. So don’t let the “hair of the dog” turn into the monkey on your back.

One great tip is to drink one water for every two drinks. Not only are you eliminating about 5 drinks from your day on Broadway, but you are hydrating, as well. One of the primary causes of a hangover headache is dehydration. Many bars in Nashville will not allow you to bring in bottled water (for risk that it could be alcohol) but all are happy to fix you an ice water at no charge. In the Summer months, many bars have water stations set up for self-service. If the bartender is taking the time out to make you an ice water, tipping $.50-$1 is a nice touch.

This is a great day drinking schedule that will allow you to remember all that good Nashville music, enjoy your friends and family, and not require three days to recover once you get home.

Sleep in and head to brunch. Nashville is a popular brunch town. Have one Bloody Mary or Mimosa, unless you still feel hungover. In that case, have a second one. Putting food on your stomach is very important for day drinking. Do not attempt to day drink on an empty stomoch. Once you start feeling like a human being again, switch to beer or cider. Drink no more than 1-2 per hour, consuming 12 oz of water for every 24 oz of beer. Take a break for a late lunch. Drink tea or water only. Late afternoon, switch back to beer for 2-3 hours, then proceed with your beverage of choice—wine, whiskey, etc. If you encounter a Bushwacker machine during your honkytonking, only drink one. One lady drank three in an hour and had to spend the rest of her trip in her hotel room!

Another way to last all day and night, is to do a little dancing to the bands. When you are dancing, you are not drinking. And you will want to drink water afterward. Day drinking is an art and a science. Nashville is a day drinking town and the music is even sweeter with a cold one in your hand. Enjoy y’all!

If you are planning a trip to nashville for more than a day, you will get some useful trip planning ideas here. You can interchange the days according to nights they are open. (ie: Grand Ole Opry has shows on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights)

Day 1

Embrace downtown! Hit Broadway and hop from bar to bar letting your ear be your guide. Live music starts at 11 AM and ends at 2 AM so pace yourself. Now downtown Nashville does not have a lot of local eateries—mostly chains. But the local ones are great. Have lunch at Puckett’s Grocery or Arnold’s for some great southern food. Visit the Tennessee Museum for a self-guided history lesson, or hit the Country Music Hall of Fame if you are really into country music. There are numerous attractions and tours downtown, so you will not be at a loss for things to keep you busy. Music City Pub Crawl is a great way to learn about the city's past in a fun, relaxed setting. It takes place on 2nd Ave, which has buildings from the 1800's and more great bars. Treat yourself for dinner to some ribs at Jack’s, or a fancier dinner at Merchant’s Restaurant, both on Broadway. If you are downtown on the first Saturday of the month, explore the art district on 5th and in the Arcade. The art crawl is from 6-9 PM and you can enjoy complimentary drinks and eats. It shows a different, eclectic, sophisticated side of Nashville that people don’t usually get to see.

Nashville loves its sports and is passionate about its teams. Join the excitement of a Titans, Predators or Sounds game.

Day 2

Book a show at the Grand Ole Opry and head out to that part of town. This is also where Gaylord Opryland Hotel is, as well as the Opry Mills Mall and where the General Jackson cruises originate. This area of town is a little tired, with the exception of the above, because many hotels and attractions were built in the 70’s and 80’s to accommodate all the visitors to the Opryland theme park. When Gaylord plowed it down for an outlet mall (albeit a nice outlet mall) the area took a direct hit in visitor counts. Anyway it’s a safe area, but there are very few local places to eat. You would probably be better off having a meal inside the Opryland Hotel. Now if you park outside Dave & Busters at Opry Mills Mall, which is right in from of the Grand ole Opry, you can take the back path to the Opryland Hotel and avoid the $20 parking fee they charge people to park for 1-2 hours. After walking around the beautiful hotel (and it is a show stopper) you could do a little shopping at Opry Mills, splurge on a lunch cruise on the General Jackson, or hang out in the plaza area outside the Opry. People start congregating there about 2 hours before show time and they usually have some entertainment outside, if weather permits. There are food and beverage (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) vendors on the grounds.

Day 3

Hit the Pancake Pantry on 21st in Midtown for breakfast. Arrive before 10 or be prepared to stand in line. This is a Nashville tradition. Not sure if the pancakes warrant a two hour line, but nobody seems to care. Hillsboro Village is great area of town, nestled between Vanderbilt University and Belmont College. It’s about 2 miles from downtown and is included in what people refer to as the Midtown area. After a hearty breakfast head to Belle Meade Plantation and enjoy their winery. Then, head for a stroll in Cheekwood Botanical Gardens or a hike in Percy Warner Park. You may also want to check out the Parthenon in Centennial Park where you can see the largest indoor statue in the Western hemisphere!

Then you could catch an early dinner in any of the great Midtown local restaurants (which contrary to downtown, there are endless local offerings here). Favorites are Boundry, Sunset Grill, Cabana, Jackson’s, and Bosco’s. After dinner, enjoy the local music scene with less tourists. On Division, there is Red Door, Losers, Blue Bar and Rebar. 21st has even more selections. All are within walking distance to each other and still a $5 cab ride back from downtown.

Day 4

Head south 20 miles to Franklin for the day. It has great civil war history and is so quaint and pristine. It’s listed in the “1000 places to visit before you die” handbook and is in the top 10 of great places to live in the U.S. It’s situated in Williamson County. Soak up all the civil war history in downtown Franklin and meander through all the specialty stores on Main Street. Disappointingly, there is very little live music in Franklin, even though that’s where most of the country music stars live. However, you can venture to Kimbro’s Pickin’ Parlor (closed Sunday and Monday) or the Bungernut Pig on Columbia Ave. Head to the Factory for more unique shops, and have lunch at Saffire. Their blueberry martini is so delicious. If you want to round out your Williamson County experience, head to Kix Brooks’ winery, Arrington Vineyards for a free wine tasting. Before you go, stop by Merridee’s Breadbasket in downtown Franklin and pick up some box lunches. Arrington Vineyards has Music in the Vines, on the weekends. The rolling hills in the background are amazing.

Day 5

Recuperate! But if you really want something to do, head to Lynchburg, TN for a tour of the Jack Daniels Distillery,

Nashville, TN has become a hotspot for bachelor and bachelorette parties. You can't walk down Broadway on Saturday without spotting endless groups of young men and women, there to celebrate the pending weddings of their besties. The bachelorette parties are a little more flamboyant, often donning tiaras, boas, matching shirts and naughty accessories. Determining why Nashville is the #1 destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties is not difficult.

The city has unlimited bars, blasting the nation's best musical talent. Starting at 11:00 AM every morning, seven days a week, the bars downtown will feature local musicians playing their hearts out for tips, exposure, and fulfillment of their love for music. Because musicians play for free, there is rarely a cover at a bar. For every bar charging a cover charge, there are 20 that don't, so keep on strolling. This makes for a fun, affordable evening for bachelorettes and bachelors, alike.

There is ALWAYS something going on in Nashville. There is such vitality to the city, and a constant offering of things to do. Music City Pub Crawl is a very popular activity for bachelors and bachelorettes. They host about 20 bachleor and bahcleorette parties each weekend, in addition to general groups each day and lots of other clebrations.. Music City Pub Crawl presents its brides with a veiled cowboy hat, and the tour highlights funny stories about Nashville's past, including toasts to the bride, and usually ends at Wild Beaver karaoke and bullriding Saloon. The cost is only $15 per guest, contributing to its popularity.

And if the downtown scene gets a little congested and tired, parties can move over one mile to Midtown for more local flavor and eclectic offerings. The Midtown area includes Music Row, Vanderbilt and Belmont universities, three hospitals, oodles of local eateries, and the hip Hillsboro Village and West End neighborhood. Midtown is a younger crowd than downtown, which appeals to bachelorettes and bachelors!

Another reason Nashville is such a popular destination for bridal parties is that warm southern charm. Everyone in Nashville is so friendly and helpful. Guests always ask why everyone is so nice? it's because they live in Nashville. Nashville is unique in that it has people from all backgrounds, most of whom were born in another part of the country; however, everyone is polite and welcoming of tourists. The city embraces everyone and exudes a sense of contentment that's not found in most cities of its size.

In addition to music and lots of people watching, guests can also shop for a great pair of boots, a fun new outfit, or just meander through the souvenir and candy shops.There are boutiques in Hillsboro Village and 12th Ave South, as well as the Gulch. Broadway area primarily had souvenir shops. For more structured weekends there's the Grand Ole Opry or a cruise on the General Jackson.

If you are considering a bachelor or bachelorette party in Nashville, here are a few tips to make your stay more enjoyable:

• Try to stay in downtown or midtown, so you don't have to drive back and forth to your hotel or pay for cabs and Lyft/Uber. Downtown hotels are pricey but if you can put 4 people to a room, it won't be that costly. The convenience will be worth it. Most of the Midtown hotels have shuttles so you can have free transportation in a trendy, local area. Air BNB and VRBO rentals are very popular housing choices for larger groups.

• Flying in? Take the MTA bus from the airport to downtown for only $1.70 per person. A cab will cost about $30--Lyft or Uber about $20. Save that dough for drinks.

• -Try to plan ahead and make reservations early for activities. Many downtown restaurants do not take reservations, so arrive early.

• Don't just stick to downtown bars. Midtown offers a whole different vibe and a more local crowd, as do the Gulch, 12th Ave and East Nashville areas.

• Dress comfortably. Nashville is a casual town and you may have to do a lot of walking. And dress for the climate. Summers are warm and humid so wear loose clothing that breathes.

• Be sure to tip the musicians. The thing that makes Nashville special is the accessibility of fantastic music, all day long. Support the musicians by tossing a couple bucks in their buckets. They will really appreciate it!

• Pace yourself. If you start partying hard at 11:00 AM, you'll give out by 5:00. Always drink plenty of water. It's not a bad idea to alternate an alcoholic beverage with a non-alcoholic one.